L OPENED E BEACON LIGHTS' VOLUME XLI FEBRUARY.- 1982 NUMBER 2 Pubilsned monthly (except ~un+Julyand Auuuat- If any material of Beacon Llghtr Is reprinted by September are combined) by the Federation of another perlodlcal, we will apreclate your giving Pmtestant Reformed Young People's Socletles. the source. EXECUTIVE BOAR^ The artlcles of Beacon Llghtr do not necessarll: David Rau - President; Gerry Van Baren - Vice- lndicate the viewpoint of the Editorial Staff. Ever! author is solely responsible for the mntents of hi! President; Norma Westfa - Laurie own article. Kamps Assistant Secretary; Mike 'Otterman - - COntrlbutlons of general Inteest are very welmmt Treasurer; Doug Wassink - Assistant Treasurer; Mary Van Baren - Librarian; Hank Vander Wal - Youth Coordinator; Prof. Decker - Spiritual All material for publication should be addressed to Advisor Dave Moelker 4625 Juleon S.W. Grand aapids, Mi 4- BEACON LIGHTS STAFF Dave Moelker - editor-In-Chlef; John M. Faber, News Editor: Marcla Hanko bvld Harbach, Ed Lotterman - Associate Editors; 4665 Juleon, S.W., Grand Rsplds, MI 44504 Ryan Feenstra - Plrtance Mananera .Ian Dempsey Carla OeVrles Linda reenstra, ellen Michigan subscription dues to Grace Faber Hanko, Mike Rau. Grace Fatrat 4190 Burton S.E.,Grand Rapids, MI 49506 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Subscribers outside of Mlchigan please Mrs. H. Brands, Randy Groenendyk, Rec. C. forward subscription dues to Hanko, Rev. R. Harbach, Rev. G. Lubbers, Ben Jan Dempsey 3519 Senora S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Wigger Collections should be sent to: Ryan Feenstra Forms 3579 should be returned to: 7643 Cardinal Dr., Jenison, MI 49428 BEACON LIGHTS 4625 Juleon S.W., Grnad Rapids, MI 49504 BEACON LIGHTS Second Class Postage paid at c/o 0. P. Bookshop Jenison, Michigan (USPS W0) P. 0. Box 2289 Subscription Price 55.00 Christchurch, New Zealan6 IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE - Televislon and Drama - Rev. G. Van Baren ..................................... 1 FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY - Total Death Unto Sin In Christ Jesus - Rev. G. Lubbers.. ......3 TRUTH VS. ERROR - The Christian With Opened Eyes - Rev. R. C. Harbach ..................7 WHAT'S WRONG WITH ROCK? - V. Lyrics - Terrl Garvelink ..............................10 Praying Wlth Sin In the Heart - Rev. J. A. Heys.. .........................................15 Irresistible Grace - Rev. H. Veldman. ....................................................18 Keyword Puzzle ......................................................................22 Test Your Memory ....................................................................23 News From, For and About Our Churches - Marcia Hanko.. ................................24 TELEVISION AND DRAMA by Rev. G. Van Baren I have been requested to write once again on a subject I (and many others as well) have often covered before. I won't bring up the many objections which are raised against theT.V.even by the world. I won't try to identLfy the "good" and "bad1'programs. I would like to present some principles which I believe apply. Perhaps you can mention others. To these I append also some questions for thought or discussion. Principle number one: All things must be done to the honor and glory of 30d and out of living faith, (Rom. 14:23; I Cor. 10:31). The truth of this is obvious. Yet the principle must be faithfully applied to every aspect of our lives. This includes our use of television or radio. Principle number two: In the day of judgment, every idle word will be judged, (Matt 12:36, 37): God judges not just serious endeavors. Every story, every joke, every passing remark, every rude comment-all come under His scrutiny. God does not declare that because something was spoken in jest or pretence, it is therefore excluded from judgment. But every idle word will be judged. Principle number three: God does not allow oneness and fellowship between light and darkness (I1 Cor. 6:14). There is to be no pleasure in, and unity with, darkness. Principle number four: God requires that His commandments be obeyed perfectly and from the heart. One can not find pleasure in breaking God's law nor in others who do, (Rom. 1:32; I John 5 :3). Principle number five: God requires that we ever use our time aright, to the glory of His holy Name. Scripture repeatedly admonishes the church to honor God in all that it does. Principle number six: God requires adequate time for the study of Scripture, meditation, and instruction of children of God's covenant. Nothing is more important than, nor can take the place of, this. Now, our subject must be evaluated and judged in light of the above principles. It will not do to claim that "everyone" does this or that. Often our standard for what is right or wrong is what our peers are doing. If "everyone" of the crowd does it, then I ought to be able to do it too. You might want to discuss reasons why that kind of thinking is wrong. I BEACON LIGHTS11 8 would only point out that the "majority" is shown to be wrong repeatedly. "majority) ' of the Israelites wanted to return from the wilderness to Egypt this did not make it right. The "majority" of the 12 spies said that Israel co~ never capture the land of Canaan. But they were wrong. The standard judging anything, and also this particular question, can never be: what dor everyone else do? Nor can the standard of judgment be: we have always done it. What has always done, can often times be very wrong. Therefore we do not contil doing a thing just because we have done it in the past. Often there is the nee of sincere repentance from an evil way. Rather, we have principles or standards presented in the Word of God itself. The question we face is: what would God have me to do? How can I be pleasing to Him in what I do or say? What might I be doing which is not pleasing to Him? Or put it this way: would Jesus accompany me in doing what I intend to do? Would He enjoy what I am saying? Would we ask Him to join 1. in our activities? And can we pray His blessings before we watch something do a thing? All the above brings us to a series of questions you might want discuss-or at least think about. 1. How much does "peer pressure" influence what we watch, and h! much we watch, television? ("Say, did you see that cool program last night channel.. .?") How often do we not want to watch a program or series programs because our friends are always talking about them? Don't we feel 1 out when we don't know what they are talking about? 2. How much or how little parental supervision ought there to be in t viewing of television? Ought parents to have nothing to say, but just "tru us"? How much parental supervision is there in your home? Is it too lax-G too strict? 3. To what extent do we honor the rules of our parents when they are not around to enforce them? What do we do when we are at a friend's home or when we are home alone? Do we simply ignore all control? Do parents control our viewing of T.V. only when they are physically present? 4. How much time do we, or should we, spend daily with T.V. ? How would you compare the time you spend with T.V. with that you spend in reading Scripture, studying for society or for catechism? Are we spending more time with this invention than with things spiritual? Is this proper or right? 5. Could we say: because we might see drama and movies on T.V. at home, that therefore we ought to be able to attend movies at the theatre too? Why or why not? Or ought we to turn the question around: if we can not attend movies, we ought not to be able to see these on our televisions either? 6. What would we do if a man came to our door, cursing and swearing? Would we allow him to stand there, while we listened, without objection? What do we do when this same kind of cursing comes into our homes on T.V. ?Do we simply tolerate it? Do we believe that God surely can not be offended that we should hear that sort of thing? PIBEACON LIGHTS 7. Finally, would we dare to invite Christ to sit with us to watch the Grams we see on television? Do we believe He would enjoy this? That He .wuld laugh with us at the jokes, be entertained by its drama, find pleasure in . - .;; pretend killings, adultery, stealing, and other sins? Would Jesus bring us 14 glory in order to see this sort of thing? You ought to have plenty to discuss. Just remember: Answer on the basis -rinciple-not just on the basis of what you like or what other do. Then put -2 practice what is based on Scriptural principle. In that way we enjoy the ~ntinuingblessing of cll:i- Cqe2 LUBBE Total Death Unto Sin in Christ Jesus ". sin shail not have dominion in you; ye are not under the law but under grace. " Romans 6:14 The truly Biblical teaching that we are saved by grace alone through faith is often misunderstood by God's people; however, it is wholly despised and misrepresented by those, who are utterly adverse to the grace of election, BEACON LIGHTS13 which is unto a new and holy life. The truth of our text is written by Paul to bolster a very importan1 admonition and exhortation of the Gospel of free grace. In this Gospel-truth we walk in godliness and liberty. The exhortation of our text is rooted, first of all, in the objective and completed work of Christ, which he performed for us, once and for all, by His atoning death, and by His powerful resurrection from th( dead as the head of the church.